Nucleic acid analyzer

Abstract

A nucleic acid analyzer includes a nucleic acid purification kit yielding a nucleic acid solution by isolating and purifying nucleic acid from a specimen; a nucleic acid analysis chip having a rotation axis positioned at a center thereof, with reaction containers at an outer portion than the rotation axis, and feeding the acid to the containers through centrifugal force; a specimen-introducing part on which the kit is placed; an analysis chip holder at the specimen-introducing part and supporting the chip; a purification treatment unit injecting the nucleic acid solution containing the nucleic acid into the chip; a centrifugal liquid feed unit feeding the nucleic acid solution to the containers by rotating the chip about the rotation axis; an analysis unit analyzing reaction products in the containers; and a transport part transporting the specimen-introducing part to the purification treatment unit, the centrifugal liquid feed unit, and the analysis unit.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A nucleic acid analyzer comprising:
 a nucleic acid purification kit that yields a nucleic acid solution by isolating and purifying nucleic acid from a specimen; 
 a nucleic acid analysis chip that has a rotation axis positioned at a center thereof, includes a plurality of reaction containers at an outer portion than the rotation axis in a radial direction, and feeds the nucleic acid purified by the nucleic acid purification kit, to the reaction containers through centrifugal force around the rotation axis, wherein
 the nucleic acid analysis chip includes a main flow passage and a plurality of branch flow passages, 
 the main flow passage is arranged in a circumferential direction around the rotation axis and has a plurality of first turning portions and a plurality of second turning portions, each of the first turning portions being positioned outward in the radial direction, each of the second turning portions being positioned inward in the radial direction relative to the first turning portions, and each of the second turning portions being connected to adjacent first turning portions, 
 the plurality of first turning portions are in fluid communication with the plurality of reaction containers respectively, by the plurality of branch flow passages respectively, and 
 at least at each connected of portions of the plurality of branch flow passages and the plurality of first turning portions, the branch flow passage is narrower than the first turning portions; 
 
 a specimen-introducing part on which the nucleic acid purification kit is placed; 
 an analysis chip holder that is provided at the specimen-introducing part and supports the nucleic acid analysis chip; 
 a purification treatment unit that injects the nucleic acid solution containing the nucleic acid into the nucleic acid analysis chip; 
 a centrifugal liquid feed unit that feeds the nucleic acid solution to each of the reaction containers by rotating the nucleic acid analysis chip about the rotation axis; 
 an analysis unit that analyzes reaction products in the reaction containers; and 
 transport part for relatively transporting the specimen-introducing part to each of the purification treatment unit, the centrifugal liquid feed unit, and the analysis unit. 
 
     
     
       2. The nucleic acid analyzer according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the analysis unit includes a temperature control mechanism that comes into contact with an outer surface of the reaction containers of the nucleic acid analysis chip and heats or cools the reaction containers so that a temperature of the reaction containers follows a predetermined temperature change. 
 
     
     
       3. The nucleic acid analyzer according to  claim 2 ,
 wherein the analysis unit includes a fluorescence measuring section that emits excitation light having a predetermined wavelength that excites a fluorescent material in the reaction containers of the nucleic acid analysis chip, and measures an intensity of fluorescence emitted from the fluorescent material. 
 
     
     
       4. The nucleic acid analyzer according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the nucleic acid purification kit includes: oil that is supplied to the nucleic acid analysis chip; a dispensing tip-receiver in which at least an oil-dispensing tip that dispenses the oil is stored, and an oil-removing unit that removes surplus oil adhering to an outer surface of an end portion of the oil-dispensing tip. 
 
     
     
       5. The nucleic acid analyzer according to  claim 4 ,
 wherein the oil-removing unit includes a lipophilic wiper that comes into contact with the outer surface of the oil-dispensing tip when an end of the oil-dispensing tip is inserted. 
 
     
     
       6. The nucleic acid analyzer according to  claim 4 ,
 wherein the nucleic acid purification kit includes a box-shaped reagent cartridge, and a plurality of reagent-dispensing tips that are stored in the dispensing tip-receiver, and 
 the reagent cartridge includes: a specimen storage portion that stores the specimen; an oil storage portion that stores the oil; a reagent storage portion that stores a liquid reagent used for the isolation and purification of the nucleic acid; a waste liquid storage portion that stores waste liquid generated during the isolation and the purification; and an extraction filter cartridge that purifies the nucleic acid of the specimen. 
 
     
     
       7. The nucleic acid analyzer according to  claim 6 ,
 wherein the reagent cartridge is provided with an opening portion sealing film that seals each of the oil storage portion and the reagent storage portion and is formed penetrable by an end of the reagent-dispensing tip or the oil-dispensing tip. 
 
     
     
       8. The nucleic acid analyzer according to  claim 6 ,
 wherein the reagent cartridge includes a holding portion that detachably holds the extraction filter cartridge. 
 
     
     
       9. The nucleic acid analyzer according to  claim 8 ,
 wherein the holding portion includes an absorbent body that absorbs liquid passing through the extraction filter cartridge. 
 
     
     
       10. The nucleic acid analyzer according to  claim 6 , further comprising:
 a cartridge-sealing film that seals an opening of the reagent cartridge. 
 
     
     
       11. The nucleic acid analyzer according to  claim 6 ,
 wherein the reagent cartridge includes a positioning mechanism that positions the reagent cartridge on the specimen-introducing part. 
 
     
     
       12. The nucleic acid analyzer according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the nucleic acid analysis chip includes an injection port that is opened and formed closer to the rotation axis than the main flow passage and that is in fluid communication with the main flow passage. 
 
     
     
       13. The nucleic acid analyzer according to  claim 12 ,
 wherein the injection port is opened coaxially with the rotation axis, 
 the nucleic acid analyzer further comprising: 
 a protruding wall portion that protrudes from the outer surface of the nucleic acid analysis chip so as to surround the injection port. 
 
     
     
       14. The nucleic acid analyzer according to  claim 13 ,
 wherein the protruding wall portion has elasticity. 
 
     
     
       15. The nucleic acid analyzer according to  claim 12 ,
 wherein the plurality of branch flow passages are formed so as to be thinner than the main flow passage. 
 
     
     
       16. The nucleic acid analyzer according to  claim 12 ,
 wherein the main flow passage has a plurality of chevron-shaped protruding portions, each protruding inwardly in a radial direction. 
 
     
     
       17. The nucleic acid analyzer according to  claim 12 ,
 wherein at least a part of the reaction container has optical transparency. 
 
     
     
       18. The nucleic acid analyzer according to  claim 12 ,
 wherein the nucleic acid analysis chip includes a chip body where concave portions forming the reaction containers and the main flow passage and the plurality of branch flow passages are formed on one surface; and a lid body that is attached to the one surface of the chip body so as to lid the concave portions. 
 
     
     
       19. The nucleic acid analyzer according to  claim 18 ,
 wherein at least one of the chip body and the lid body has optical transparency. 
 
     
     
       20. The nucleic acid analyzer according to  claim 18 ,
 wherein the chip body is made of a resin material having optical transparency, and the lid body is made of a metal material. 
 
     
     
       21. The nucleic acid analyzer according to  claim 2 , wherein the nucleic acid purification kit includes: oil that is supplied to the nucleic acid analysis chip; a dispensing tip-receiver in which at least an oil-dispensing tip that dispenses the oil is stored, and an oil-removing unit that removes surplus oil adhering to an outer surface of an end portion of the oil-dispensing tip. 
     
     
       22. The nucleic acid analyzer according to  claim 3 , wherein the nucleic acid purification kit includes: oil that is supplied to the nucleic acid analysis chip; a dispensing tip-receiver in which at least an oil-dispensing tip that dispenses the oil is stored, and an oil-removing unit that removes surplus oil adhering to an outer surface of an end portion of the oil-dispensing tip. 
     
     
       23. The nucleic acid analyzer according to  claim 21 ,
 wherein the oil-removing unit includes a lipophilic wiper that comes into contact with the outer surface of the oil-dispensing tip when an end of the oil-dispensing tip is inserted. 
 
     
     
       24. The nucleic acid analyzer according to  claim 22 ,
 wherein the oil-removing unit includes a lipophilic wiper that comes into contact with the outer surface of the oil-dispensing tip when an end of the oil-dispensing tip is inserted. 
 
     
     
       25. The nucleic acid analyzer according to  claim 21 ,
 wherein the nucleic acid purification kit includes a box-shaped reagent cartridge, and a plurality of reagent-dispensing tip that are stored in the dispensing tip-receiver, and 
 the reagent cartridge includes: a specimen storage portion that stores the specimen; an oil storage portion that stores the oil; a reagent storage portion that stores a liquid reagent used for the isolation and purification of the nucleic acid; a waste liquid storage portion that stores waste liquid generated during the isolation and the purification; and an extraction filter cartridge that purifies the nucleic acid of the specimen. 
 
     
     
       26. The nucleic acid analyzer according to  claim 22 ,
 wherein the nucleic acid purification kit includes a box-shaped reagent cartridge, and a plurality of reagent-dispensing tips that are stored in the dispensing tip-receiver, and 
 the reagent cartridge includes: a specimen storage portion that stores the specimen; an oil storage portion that stores the oil; a reagent storage portion that stores a liquid reagent used for the isolation and purification of the nucleic acid; a waste liquid storage portion that stores waste liquid generated during the isolation and the purification; and an extraction filter cartridge that purifies the nucleic acid of the specimen. 
 
     
     
       27. The nucleic acid analyzer according to  claim 25 ,
 wherein the reagent cartridge is provided with an opening portion sealing film that seals each of the oil storage portion and the reagent storage portion and is formed penetrable by an end of the reagent-dispensing tip or the oil-dispensing tip. 
 
     
     
       28. The nucleic acid analyzer according to  claim 26 ,
 wherein the reagent cartridge is provided with an opening portion sealing film that seals each of the oil storage portion and the reagent storage portion and is formed penetrable by an end of the reagent-dispensing tip or the oil-dispensing tip. 
 
     
     
       29. The nucleic acid analyzer according to  claim 25 ,
 wherein the reagent cartridge includes a holding portion that detachably holds the extraction filter cartridge. 
 
     
     
       30. The nucleic acid analyzer according to  claim 26 ,
 wherein the reagent cartridge includes a holding portion that detachably holds the extraction filter cartridge. 
 
     
     
       31. The nucleic acid analyzer according to  claim 29 ,
 wherein the holding portion includes an absorbent body that absorbs liquid passing through the extraction filter cartridge. 
 
     
     
       32. The nucleic acid analyzer according to  claim 30 ,
 wherein the holding portion includes an absorbent body that absorbs liquid passing through the extraction filter cartridge. 
 
     
     
       33. The nucleic acid analyzer according to  claim 25 , further comprising:
 a cartridge-sealing film that seals an opening of the reagent cartridge. 
 
     
     
       34. The nucleic acid analyzer according to  claim 26 , further comprising:
 a cartridge-sealing film that seals an opening of the reagent cartridge. 
 
     
     
       35. The nucleic acid analyzer according to  claim 25 ,
 wherein the reagent cartridge includes a positioning mechanism that positions the reagent cartridge on the specimen-introducing part. 
 
     
     
       36. The nucleic acid analyzer according to  claim 26 ,
 wherein the reagent cartridge includes a positioning mechanism that positions the reagent cartridge on the specimen-introducing part.